GIANTS TAG PIERRE-PAUL
Less than a year after revamping their defense with a free agent spending spree, the New York Giants moved to keep one of their leading pass rushers in place. The Giants used the franchise tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, a person familiar with the move told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the development.
Pro Football Talk was the first to report the move. Pierre-Paul, 28, had seven sacks in 12 games last season, his second since a Fourth of July fireworks accident that cost him part of two fingers. The franchise tender for defensive ends is expected to be about $17 million. The Arizona Cardinals placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Chandler Jones two days ahead of the deadline to do so, the team announced in a release. The franchise tender for linebackers is expected to be roughly $14.6 million, according to Albert Breer of the sports website The MMQB. A year after placing the franchise tag on cornerback Josh
Norman only to later rescind it, the Carolina Panthers have again given the designation to one of their top defenders. Defensive tackle Kawann Short was given the franchise tag, the team an- nounced. Short had six sacks last season and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015.